HARRISONBURG, Va. – Entering the homestretch of the season, the EMU Baseball Team looked to complete a season sweep of Washington & Lee at Royals Field on Wednesday. Both teams and the fans in the stands were treated to bonus baseball on a chilly April afternoon, with the game going 12 innings. However, in the end, there was no joy in Harrisonburg as the Generals marched home with a 9-8 win over the Royals.
 
Wednesday's game was the longest in terms of innings played for the Diamond Royals in just over six years. EMU beat Randolph Macon 5-4 in 12 innings in the second game of a home doubleheader back on April 6, 2019.

Records: EMU 9-16, 4-10 ODAC | Washington & Lee 12-12, 6-11 ODAC

WP: Brody Pasieka (1-2)
LP:  Maxim Fritts (1-2)

Highlights

• EMU began the scoring in the first inning, with Aidan Miller slapping a single up the middle to bring in Nick Arnold. The Royals doubled their lead in the bottom of the third, thanks to Erik Wilkinson smacking a base hit through the left side, allowing Arnold to score again. That put EMU up 2-0 through three innings.
• The Royals continued to build their early lead in the fifth inning. Miller blasted a two-run home run over the fence in left centerfield, putting EMU up 4-0 after five innings. As the Royals' bats went to work, starting pitcher Alec Riles shut out W&L through the first five innings.
• Washington & Lee lit up the scoreboard with two runs in the top of the sixth. With the Royals unable to answer in the bottom of the frame, that made the score EMU 4, W&L 2 after six innings.
• Following a scoreless seventh inning, both offenses exploded in the eighth. The Generals racked up five runs in the top of the frame to take their first lead at 7-4, but the Royals quickly countered with three runs of their own to tie the game at 7. Dylan Hall ripped a base hit up the middle, sending both Erik Wilkinson and Jett Cabanban home. Arnold then drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in the tying run. Neither side could muster a winning run in the ninth, forcing extra innings.
• The Generals snuck ahead 8-7 in the top of the 10th, but the resilient Royals had an answer again. Hall lofted a sacrifice fly to right field, and Cabanban tagged up from third to score and deadlock the game at 8-8.
• Washington & Lee plated the winning run in the top of the 12th when Campbell Charneco singled through the left side to bring home Landen Rucker. The Royals got the winning run on base, but they could not bring it home, and the Generals celebrated a road win in the waning daylight.

What's Next
EMU Baseball will head east down I-64 for a road doubleheader at Virginia Wesleyan this Saturday, April 12. First pitch versus the Marlins is set for 12 p.m.